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Israel on Tuesday sent its deepest condolences to the people of Boston after two terrorist bombs killed three people and wounded 183 others at the finish line of the Boston Marathon a day earlier. There were many children among the casualties.

"Yesterday, a day of enjoyment in Boston was turned into a day of terror," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We send our condolences to President Obama, the American people and the bereaved families. On this day and on any day, Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the American people. We are partners in freedom and in seeking a better future for all humanity."

Israeli humanitarian aid organizations offered to dispatch assistance, and Israel Police Chief Yohanan Danino and his senior staff departed for a scheduled visit to Boston to meet with FBI and other US law enforcement officials. Danino will work to further law enforcement cooperation between the two nations and provide Israeli expertise in the investigation into the marathon bombing.

By contrast, members of the Palestinian organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad reportedly danced and handed out candies in the streets of Gaza after hearing about the spilling of American blood. Islamists in neighboring Jordan told local media that the Americans deserved such terror.

Many Muslims were "happy to see the horror in America," Mohammad al-Chalabi, the leader of a Salafi group in Jordan, was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the chief of emergency services at Massachusetts General Hospital, the hospital that treated the bulk of those wounded in the Boston Marathon bombing, credited Israel with preparing his staff to effectively deal with such an scenario.

Dr. Alasdair Conn said that two years ago, he had invited Israeli experts to train his staff on handling mass casualty situations. That training was put to good use on Monday, and Massachusetts General was widely praised for the way it handled the situation.

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